Our lady is weird today!

Cecilia walked down to the stairs and Mary followed her. 

After a long debate, the maid helped her dress including wearing a tight corset that pressed against her stomach and the waist. And her dress looks like pastry.

How can they treat humans like this? She asked to herself.

But when she saw her reflection in the mirror, she couldn't complain. Her body is in the perfect shape! Slender, slim and flawless.

Even so, there was a question that came to her mind.  

Who is the lunatic who sets such a painful beauty standard?

Although Cecilia's old memories helped her to recognize every corner of the giant house, still she couldn't hide her admiration when she saw it in person.

 

Jeweled chandeliers, soft carpets along the corridors and stairs, glossy marble floors and a lot of paintings with high artistic value.

Cecilia wondered what happened to the real Cecilia.  Was she also punished for a mistake that was considered fatal?

Did she replace Ji Eun?

But if Ji Eun died, wouldn't Cecilia's soul be stray?

There is a slight feeling of guilt.

As if she had stolen her place. 

But quickly, those feeling vanished as she remembered the river of fire.

In all likelihood, the real Cecilia would get a second chance just like her.

"Miss, please have the salad," 

A male waiter delivered a small plate of lettuce and spinach which was drizzled with a little olive oil when she had just sat down.

Beside her, were several rows of knives, spoons and forks made of silver and sort into different sizes.

If she didn't have memories of the real Cecilia, she would have been confused.

After the salad was finished, the waiter handed her a plate of eggs, sausage and bacon. 

The appearance is so tempting and appetizing.

But somehow, Cecilia remembered her breakfast from the past that she often missed. 

Warm white rice with a bowl of vegetable soup and spicy pickled cucumber.

And for some reason, as soon as she put the sausage slice in her mouth, her eyes were blurry with tears.

No matter how busy her mother was, she still had a time to prepare food for her.

Even though, she has to eat all alone at the simple dining table.

Even though, her house smells like soju and cigarette's smoke, she missed her parents.

Just a little bit. 

Although it just seventeen years of life is full of the sound of screaming, beating cane, or arguing between her parents.

Deep in her heart, she prayed that her father and mother would find happiness.

Maybe, her mother would filled the divorce form, which she always wanted. In order to be free from the temperamental drunken husband.

His father must have agreed it because he always wanted to live a life without his wife's scolding.

 "Is something wrong, Miss?" Mary asked carefully.  

The male servant looked scared and didn't dare to look up. 

His hands were shaking.

"No. I just missed her. My mother."

That unexpected answer shocked everyone in the room, including Cecilia herself.

"Ah, sorry. I must be still half awake. Sorry, I didn't mean it that way."

This time the servants exchanged glances and sent out the same telepathic signal.  Our lady said the word sorry twice in the same sentence!!

Cecilia's stomach was full after finishing her meal. 

Either because of the corset or Cecilia's limited stomach capacity.

 

In her past life, she could eat up to five bowls of rice. 

And it can get doubled if she is in the bad mood.

Of course her mother was angry when she notice her uncontrolled appetite. You will be a pig one day, she said at the time.

But now she is determined to maintain her health by adjusting her diet menu.

Cecilia also thought that she should get so much exercise to keep in shape. Now, this is her way of appreciating herself. 

The things she can't do in the past.

The male servant, whom she just remembered as Thomas, put a plate of a slice of vanila cake with white cream and strawberry pieces for her dessert. 

He also filled her glass with water.

Cecilia drank a little before eating the cake.

"Miss, what happened?" Mary handed her a white handkerchief.

It turned out that, without realizing it, her eyes were teary again!

Of course, it's not tears of sadness but the happiness because she can eat a cake without worry about the money. She did not expect that in this new life, she could eat and feel so many new things that she never experienced before.

This time, she really determined to live a good life. 

Not entirely about the river of fire, but because of her gratitude for this second chance she was taking now.

 "This is delicious. Can I speak to the chef?" Cecilia said as she finished her cake.

Thomas nodded and walked out of the room. Two minutes later he arrived with a fat man dressed in white and a red tie on his collar. He looks so nervous and his hands squeezed his white hat. 

"You called me, miss?"

 "Yes. I want to thank you for the dish you've served so far. It's so delicious!"

The cook, named Miguel, could not hide his surprise.  His brown eyes widen and his eyebrows rose upward.  His jaw was dropped.

Looks like he didn't expect this. 

For him, everything was normal if his mistress to throw a plate to his face.

Cecilia then removed her amethyst brooch from her chest and attached it to Miguel's tie, who was still frozen in place.

"Thank you for your hardwork, Sir Miguel," Cecilia smiled and turned to leave the dining room.

Miguel turned his head to look at Thomas who looked just as confused as he is.

"Hey, what does that mean? Is she just fired me?"

 "I don't know. Today, Young Miss looks so... different."

"I almost died when you said that Young Miss was looking for me." Miguel said with a sigh of relief. 

"Be grateful because nobody get fired this morning."

 ***

The capital city of Handelburg is very beautiful. Victorian-style buildings neatly lined the road.  The green trees add the coolness in the middle of this summer.

It was very different with her hometown back then. The sight was clearly visible from the horse carriage window.

Even so, Cecilia couldn't help feeling uneasy. She went back to biting her nails to divert her nervousness.

She said to herself that everything would be all right. But, it doesn't work.

Until her carriage arrived at the destination, Cecilia slumped back into her seat.

"I wish I could just disappear from this place. Ah, no!"

Her personal bodyguard, Theo Wallace, opened the door and reached his hand out to help Cecilia off the carriage.

 "Thank you, Theo."

The bodyguard bowed slightly and did not answer anything.

Cecilia sighed again as she muttered, "Here goes nothing."